Introduction:
Renal disease is common amongst people living with HIV. However, there is limited information on the incidence and risk factors associated with renal dysfunction among this population in Asia.
Methods:
We used data from the TREAT Asia HIV Observational Database. Patients were included if they started antiretroviral therapy (ART) during or after 2003, had a serum creatinine measurement at ART initiation (baseline) and had at least two follow-up creatinine measurements taken ≥3 months apart. Patients with a baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≤60ml/min/1.73m2 were excluded. Chronic kidney disease was defined as two consecutive eGFR values ≤60ml/min/1.73m2 taken ≥3 months apart. Generalized estimating equations were used to identify factors associated with eGFR change. Competing risk regression adjusted for study site, age and sex, and cumulative_incidence plots were used to evaluate factors associated with CKD.
Results:
Of 2,547 patients eligible for this analysis, tenofovir was being used by 703 (27.6%) at baseline. Tenofovir use, high baseline eGFR, advanced HIV disease stage and low nadir CD4 were associated with a decrease in eGFR during follow up. CKD occurred at a rate of 3.4 per 1000 patient/years. Factors associated with CKD were tenofovir use, old age, low baseline eGFR, low nadir CD4, and protease inhibitor use.
Conclusions:
There is an urgent need to enhance renal monitoring and management capacity among at-risk groups in Asia and improve access to less nephrotoxic antiretrovirals.